Aaron woke up, and stared at the ceiling for a while.
Aaron: "Oh, yeah... I'm not at home anymore..."
He continued to stare at the ceiling, until he heard noises from outside of his door, presumably near the table.
Aaron grunted and got up, opening the door and walking down the hall only to be greeted by Charlotte, who was already hard at work making breakfast.
Aaron: "Well, you're up early."
Charlotte: "It's only natural to be hospitable for guests. Don't expect something like this every day."
Aaron: "Rude."
The words were harsh, but Aaron didn't care. He just wanted to get out of the forest.
Aaron: "So..."
He peered at the assortments of herbs and spices --- or rather, spice, next to Charlotte.
Aaron: "If you have salt, that means there's a town nearby, right?"
Aaron sat on the counter.
Charlotte: "Correct. I was planning on taking you there today to find you some items and gear, since you seem woefully unprepared for the world around you."
Charlotte stopped making what seemed like eggs now and turned to Aaron.
Charlotte: "Are you a noble?"
Aaron: "Nope."
Charlotte: "But your hands---"
Aaron: "I'm not a noble, in fact, I'm far from it."
Charlotte looked Aaron in the eyes, and he did the same.
Charlotte: "Get off of the counter."
She turned back to making eggs while Aaron sighed and leaped off of the counter, and took a seat at the table.
Aaron buried his face in his arms.
Aaron: [Well, this is awkward. She doesn't want anything to do with me! Just answers, answers, answers...]
Aaron looked over his arms to see Charlotte preparing their eggs. He burrowed his face yet again.
Aaron: [Ah! The suspense is killing me! I don't want to seem weird... wait, does she already think I'm weird? Aw, man! Wait...]
Aaron lifted his head to Charlotte who was bringing the plated food over to the table.
Aaron: "Hey, so, you live out in the forest, yeah? So, how do you, like, have working electricity?"
Charlotte raised an eyebrow as she set down his food. It looked appetizing to him.
Charlotte: "What electricity?"
Aaron: "The one you used to turn on the stove."
Charlotte looked at him oddly, and Aaron understood; he'd misheard the question. It wasn't 'What electricity,' but rather 'What's electricity?'
Charlotte: "I used Flameoath magic."
Aaron chuckled to himself.
Aaron: "Okay, you can stop the roleplaying. Seriously."
Charlotte looked puzzled, and raised her hand like she was accepting a gift. Just then, a small orb of fire flickered into existence, floating slightly above her hand. Aaron was completely dumbfounded.
Aaron: "W-wait! Fire magic? Magic? Fire? Fire!? Fire! We're in a wooden house, dipshit! Why are you casting fire?!"
Charlotte seemed amused.
Charlotte: "Don't worry, I have mastery over my magic that's comparable to a high ranking noble."
Charlotte seemed to look her words over in her head after she spoke them, but then looked back at Aaron.
Charlotte: "Did you not know about magic?"
Aaron stuttered.
Aaron: "O-of course I did! I was just surprised you cast it in a wooden house."
Charlotte crossed her fingers and put her elbows on the table, trying to get a read on Aaron.
Charlotte: [What ever is he thinking?]
Aaron fidgeted nervously, wondering why Charlotte was staring at him so intently.
Charlotte: "You've got the build and hands of a noble, as well as the clothes of one, and yet I found you wandering a forest at night with no company of guards. There was no injury on you either, so I had to rule out any sort of ransacking or surprise attack."
Aaron: "Pretty observant --- wait, what do you mean by 'build of a noble?' Is that good, or...?"
Charlotte: "You've got absolutely no muscle on you whatsoever, and your hands show no sign of hard work."
Aaron: "Damn."
Charlotte: "Where did you get those clothes?"
Aaron: "My mother bought them for me."
Charlotte reached out to feel Aaron's clothes, but he quickly hit her hand away.
Aaron: "Don't touch me!"
Charlotte: "My apologies."
They both waited in awkward silence for just a moment. Eventually, Aaron pushed his chair in and put on his shoes. Charlotte just sat and watched.
Aaron: "Hey, are we going to the town or not?"
Charlotte: "Right."
She got out of her seat and opened the door.
Charlotte: "Follow me."
Aaron: "Right."
The two walked out of the front door, Aaron making sure to shut it behind him. Charlotte took him behind the house to reveal a path he'd not seen before. He wondered, but he didn't bother to bring up why the house was facing the wrong way.
As the two walked, it was still silent. Aaron padded his arms for any muscle, but was disappointed. Aaron noticed that Charlotte didn't take her bow with her, and decided to speak up.
Aaron: "Uh, you forgot your bow back there."
Charlotte: "We won't be needing it today."
Aaron processed for a moment, and then digressed.
Aaron: "If you say so."
Charlotte: "What's with you?"
Aaron: "Hm?"
Charlotte: "You seem so dismissive, or maybe... submissive? Almost like you haven't the energy to do anything at all."
Aaron then spoke in a monotone voice and face.
Aaron: "How perceptive."
It took a little bit longer until they were out of the forest entirely and in an open field. Aaron took time to look around and admire the vibrant green color of the grass.
Aaron: "Whoa... the big city don't got nothin' on this..."
Charlotte: "Big city? Are you from up north?"
Aaron: "Somethin' like that."
Aaron looked at the beauty for a moment longer before Charlotte pulled him to the side.
Aaron: "Hey, what was ---"
Just then, a speeding carriage passed him. It was intricately designed with a gold, ornamental design. The carriage itself was a flash of purple, pulled by four horses; one red, one white, one black, and a black-and-white spotted horse.
Aaron: "Hey, watch where you're going!"
Aaron shouted at them, but they were already too far. He then looked back at Charlotte, who still had a grip on his arms. He shook her off, and spoke:
Aaron: "Thanks for saving me. I guess that's another one I owe ya, huh?"
Charlotte: "It was nothing."
Aaron: "Still monotone as ever, huh?"
Charlotte slapped him on the side of his head, and he clutched it; but he didn't scream, or even give an 'Ow!'
Aaron: "Guess I deserved that one, huh? But, on to a different topic..."
Aaron cracked his back.
Aaron: "Were those guys important? I remember readin' somewhere that purple was a sign of royalty in these times, or at least what I think these times are."
Charlotte: [What a curious boy.]
Charlotte: "Yes, in fact, judging by those designs, I'd assume they were royalty."
Aaron: "Whoa, I almost had a lawsuit on the royalty of Alaine itself --- hey, you good?"
Charlotte: "I'm fine."
Aaron: "You sure? You kinda sneered when you said 'royalty', or at least it looked like that to me."
Charlotte: "I've got a bad experience with the royals of this country."
Aaron: "What, did somethin' bad happen?"
Charlotte tensed up her shoulders and paused for a moment.
Aaron: "Scratch that."
Aaron kept on walking forwards.
Aaron: "I really don't want to know."
Aaron could tell that something bad had happened to her, judging by her reaction; but he left it be. He didn't need any unnecessary drama.
Charlotte quickly caught up with him, and he put his hands in his pockets yet again.
Aaron: "What's that?"
Aaron gazed into the distance, and as he walked closer, he could see that they were crop fields. Charlotte explained that they were now in the town of Elaine, to which Aaron commented on how similar both the country's and the towns' names' sounded.
After another smack, this time on the back of the head, Charlotte explained that this village thrived on agriculture.
Aaron: "Sounds like a nice little town."
Charlotte: "It is."
Aaron: "So, why don't you live in it then?"
Charlotte: "Cease your inquiry."
Aaron: "Alright, Mrs. Snippy."
Charlotte: "I'm not with anyone at the moment."
Aaron: "Exactly."
Aaron let out a smug smile, but quickly flinched when Charlotte seemed like she was going to throw a punch. Charlotte pulled the punch, and just kept walking.
Aaron muttered something unintelligible under his breath.
Charlotte: [What is this kid's deal?]
After a while, they finally made it to the wooden gates of the town; or if you could even call it that. You were able to see over the hastily made wooden fortifications, and it was more like a stable door than an actual gate.
Aaron: "Why the walls?"
Charlotte: "This town often gets targeted during the harvest season."
Aaron: "But all the farms are back there."
Aaron used his thumb to point behind him.
Charlotte: "But all of the surplus is in the town."
Aaron: "Oh, yeah. That makes much more sense."
Aaron approached two guards stationed at either side of the 'gate.'
Charlotte: "What are you doing?!"
Aaron quickly turned back.
Aaron: "What?!"
Charlotte: "We don't go in this way."
Aaron: "But it looks like the front gate!"
Aaron turned back to the gate to see what was presumably a merchant handing one of the guards some sort of verification. When he did, the guards checked his stock for a few moments, and then signaled to open the gate for him.
Aaron turned back to Charlotte.
Aaron: "Look, see that guy over there!"
Aaron pointed at the now closing gate.
Charlotte began to walk away.
Charlotte: "We don't go in this way."
Aaron tried to get a word in edgewise, but Charlotte quickly dismissed it.
Charlotte: "Follow me."
Aaron: "Is that your catchphrase?"
Reluctantly, Aaron sighed and followed Charlotte.
The two walked around the walls for a little while before stumbling upon a ditch that passed under the wall. Aaron remarked on it.
Aaron: "Not a very good wall if there're gaps in it."
Charlotte: "I made this gap."
Aaron: "Why?"
Charlotte: "Don't ask questions."
Aaron: "Uh, I'm sorry lady, but this is weird."
Aaron crossed his arms and began tapping his foot.
Aaron: "First, we can't go through the front gate,"
Aaron pointed at the sky with his arms still crossed.
Aaron: "Second, we're crawling through a ditch that you made!"
Aaron uncrossed his arms and pointed at Charlotte.
Aaron: "What's your deal!"
Charlotte contemplated answering for a moment. She was already crouched in the ditch, about to crawl through. She stood up and looked up at Aaron.
Charlotte: "You need money to enter through the front gate. I don't have any, so they wouldn't let me in."
Aaron: "Oh, yeah, I guess we're broke, huh."
Aaron turned his head away, making his arms crossed again, yet stopping his foot tapping.
Charlotte: [We?]
Charlotte: "We?"
Aaron turned to her curiously.
Aaron: "Yeah, we. We have no money."
Charlotte: [I thought this guy had at least something...]
Charlotte: "So... you're telling me you have no money either?"
Aaron: "Flat broke."
Charlotte: "So then... if the whole reason I brought you here was to get you gear so you would get of my hair,"
Aaron quickly snapped his head back to look at her.
Aaron: "I'm sorry, what?"
Charlotte: "And you don't have any money, that means there's no point to being here."
Aaron walked down into the ditch until he was just about the same head level as her, which means he was slightly higher in elevation.
Aaron: "Welp, we're already here. Might as well see what the small town has to offer."
Aaron passed her, and crawled through the ditch and under the wall. When he stood up on the other side, he brushed himself off and looked. He saw shimmering cobblestone roads, medieval style houses, horses and buggies --- everything he'd thought he'd see; and yet still, he was amazed.
Aaron: "Whoa, so cool!"
Charlotte got up besides him, and inquired him about his reaction.
Charlotte: "They have these in the big city too, y'know. This architecture is the staple of Alaine."
Aaron: "Yeah, but it still never ceases to amaze me."
Charlotte got out of the ditch, and Aaron promptly followed. As the two walked through, Charlotte made a statement.
Charlotte: "The original purpose of being here was to get you some items and have you be on your way, yet you have no money."
Aaron: "Neither do you."
Charlotte: "True. So, we have no means of income."
Aaron: "Yeah, that's true."
Aaron stopped in front of a big building, and Charlotte stopped a little bit in front of him.
Aaron: "We could always apply at the Adventurer's Guild."
Aaron looked at her and pointed towards it. Charlotte quickly snapped back with a response.
Charlotte: "No."
Aaron attempted to convince her, but she was already walking away.
Aaron: "Man, women..."
Aaron ran back to her side.
Aaron: "Well, we need to make money. Is there any place we could go with resumés like ours?"
Charlotte put her hand on her chin and thought for a moment. Before she could respond, Aaron answered his own question.
Aaron: "So, if there's an Adventurer's Guild, then there's gotta be a Thief's Guild, or something like that, right?"
Charlotte: "As if I'd ever stoop as low as a lowly thief."
Aaron slapped her on the back.
Aaron: "Oh, put your pride aside. They're probably rough and rowdy at the Thief's Guild, right?"
Charlotte: "Of course. It's a den of snakes and worms."
Aaron: "So that means they'd be willing to gamble!"
Charlotte looked at Aaron quizzically.
Charlotte: "What's your point?"
Aaron: "We go to the Thief's Guild, right?"
Charlotte: "Right."
Aaron: "And we bet some money on like, I dunno --- oh, arm wrestling, yeah! So we bet some money on you,"
Charlotte: "Me? How come?"
Aaron: "Because despite your looks, you're crazy strong."
Charlotte didn't know whether to take that as an insult or a compliment.
Aaron: "And, inevitably, they will lose; and we'll get the money!"
Charlotte: "And... you are sure this will work?"
Aaron: "80/20. I mean --- surely you can beat a bunch of lowly thugs in arm wrestling, right?"
Charlotte: [Well played.]
Charlotte: "Yes, I suppose so. Where is the Thief's Guild, exactly?"
Aaron scratched the back of his head.
Aaron: "I --- uh, don't exactly know."
Charlotte stared at him.
Aaron: "But! And a big, big but on that one!"
Aaron extended his hand so that Charlotte would stop, even though she wasn't going to do anything.
Aaron: "This town isn't that big. We can find it, easy!"
Charlotte: "So, we split up?"
Aaron: "No, bad idea! We stay together, because you've been here, and I haven't!"
Charlotte: "What makes you think that?"
Aaron: "You --- you have, haven't you?"
Charlotte was the one who crossed her arms and closed her arms this time.
Charlotte: "Fine. Follow me."
Aaron: "Ah, Charlotte's words of wisdom."
Aaron then proceeded to get elbow'd in the stomach by Charlotte. As he clutched his stomach, he muttered something about definitely winning their bets.
When they arrived at the Thief's Guild, Aaron inquired.
Aaron: "This doesn't look too much like a guild."
Charlotte: "That's because it isn't --- not officially, at least. This building is listed as abandoned in all official records, but I see people entering all the time."
Aaron: "So, you could be leading us into a mob front?"
Charlotte: "Mob?"
Aaron: "Mafia. Y'know, organized crime? Back in New Yor --- the big city, I had a run in with those guys --- lemme tell ya, not fun."
Charlotte made a noise of affirmation, and then shook her head.
Aaron: "Well, whatever ya say. You're strong, so I'm counting on you to protect me."
Aaron gave Charlotte a thumbs up.
Charlotte: [I can't tell anything he's thinking behind that unamused expression...]
Charlotte nodded, and walked up the steps to the building, and violently pushed open the doors.
Aaron: "Aack --- why are you drawing attention to yourself?!"
Charlotte: "Was this not your idea?"
Aaron was speechless. He just sighed and followed her; but, he still put on his best performance.
Aaron: "Hey, there, everybody!"
Everyone in the large interior stared. The floor was made of some rocky tile, and the tables were made out of a similar looking stone. Baristas froze mid serving, while tough looking guys chuckled. One man stared. One woman turned her head away.
Charlotte, Aaron: [This'll never work.] "This's gonna be a long day."